Apple's servers were bogged down on Wednesday from an overwhelming number of iOS users trying to update their devices to the newest version of the software, prompting some to receive an “Error 3200” message.

The error code appears during iOS 5 installation when a request for authorization from an updating device fails to be fulfilled by Apple's servers. The company said the issue stemmed from the massive amount of simultaneous attempts from users trying to download the new software.

For some, attempts to update have left them without access to the iPhone. For instance, one AppleInsider reader reported that his iPhone became useless, or bricked, after receiving the error message because the handset couldn't get through to Apple's authentication servers to reactivate the phone. The reader went on to say that Apple's Fifth Ave. store was flooded with customers bringing in bricked devices, asking staff for help.

Apple's servers are said to be only accepting about half the requests, and even if access is granted, users have reported that the download takes about 15 minutes. It has also been noted that, following a successful download, the backup process is taking much longer than usual to complete, with some seeing 3 hour wait times.

Other problems have been reported from users trying to upgrade to iOS 5, including the inability to access iCloud.

Some iPhone updaters have seen a "3004" error message as well, followed by the bricking of their device. The message refers to iTunes not being able to connect with Apple's update server, which is in line with what company representatives believe caused the "3200" error message.

A discussion thread started on Apple’s Support Communities forum details the various issues users are having with the iOS 5 rollout.

Service representatives said that Apple is currently working on the authentication issue, claiming that the problem would be resolved in a few hours, reports website Mashable.

Apple released iOS 5 early Wednesday, which is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPad, iPad 2, and third- and fourth-generation iPod touches. In order to perform the upgrade, users must have the new iTunes 10.5 installed on their Mac or Windows PC.

Apple's servers were bogged down on Wednesday from an overwhelming number of iOS users trying to update their devices to the newest version of the software, prompting some to receive an Error 3200 message.[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ][/c]

My personal pain hasn't been with iOS devices (though I've only updated my AppleTV - took around 20 minutes). I updated my oldest iMac to 10.7.2 in about 20 minutes (download total, including iTunes, was a little over 900MB?), but the biggest problem has been with my new iMac - I started the download (little over 800Mb - again...MEG?) and it's taken over 5 hours so far! I've stopped it, restarted it, reset my router, everything I could think of to kick this thing off again and update like the old iMac did, and it's just CRAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWLLLLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNN NNNNG.

And I can't update my other iOS devices 'til this one is done! ARGH!!!!!

If you are getting these errors, just keep trying. It will eventually get through it. There are two places that can hang up due to excessive server load. Prior to starting the update, and after the update is done updating and the phone reboots. If you get to the point where your phone throws an error and the screen is blank, just unplug it and replug it back in and it should report that it's in DFU mode.

For those on the beta wanting to update to the production release, just download the IPSW, and hold down the option key when hitting the Restore button. It should then allow you to choose the downloaded IPSW file to install. Of course you'll have the same hard time getting into all of the Apple servers like everyone else.

Although I'm disappointed to hear about apparent widespread problems, it's worth pointing out that the over the air delta update support in iOS 5 lays the groundwork for avoiding this kind of trouble in the future. Not only will subsequent downloads be smaller, but they'll most likely be staged over a period of a day or two. This could very well be the last time every single iOS user is turned loose at the exact same moment to pound the living hell out of Apple's servers.

Personally love how this message showed halfway through the install on my iPod causing it to enter recovery mode and require a full reinstall...a few hours later I figured it was safe to try on my iPad...dead wrong.

Long story short, bad experience but good OS. I was gonna post so much hate about it on my iPod because it was so leggy but a simple restart fixed that. Shame that I lost all my progress (100%) in real racing 2 on my iPad though...

I had my iPhone 4 bricked. I unplugged the sync cable and then plugged my iPhone back in and iTunes detected my phone in its state. I then ran the restore process and had to do this 5 times until Apple server was available and my iPhone 4 was successfully updated. I had an error 3200 on my iPad as well and it took about 6 tries to get it updated as well. Wow. What a process.

For those on the beta wanting to update to the production release, just download the IPSW, and hold down the option key when hitting the Restore button. It should then allow you to choose the downloaded IPSW file to install. Of course you'll have the same hard time getting into all of the Apple servers like everyone else.

Keep trying and eventually it will finish.

I should point out that the GM that is freely available online appears to be the same as the production version. At least, enough to DL it now if you really want iOS 5 and then get the production version in a few days when things calm down. I'm running the GM seed just fine since last Wednesday

As long as apple insist on upgrading their entire lineup on the same day
We will have these errors with every major release of a new iOS
Just wait till Friday, when you add all the new iPhone 4s start activating on top of this increased load

No one on earth today can build a system for that kind of use in extraordinary launch day.

Neither apple, neither IBM and no telecom can dimension their network for that.

So, just wait. Technology is wonderful but not magical. Internet and modern computers have some serious limits.

You are right. However, they should have foreseen this and planned the rollout better. What about a ticket system, like at the deli. You login with your apple id or initiate a sign up and then you get a number or a date and time. You will be allowed to download at your scheduled time. That way there is not this massive overload.

Yea I was having this issue plus super slow download speeds. I think the demand was massive since I doubt apple would understaff it's servers so to speak after mobile me fiasco. I think they should have rolled this out at midnight or early in the morning to allow people to start the download as they left for work instead of getting everyone on at the same time.

Thankfully I did not have any bricking issues with the phone, and iPad was actually the smoothest update in term of being error free (is iPad 1 so maybe there was less demands on it).

I wonder if the folks who claim their devices were "bricked" tried putting the iPhone in DFU mode or Recovery mode?! My guess is one of those two would have brought them back to life to restore in iTunes...

Seems to be moving right along now, but as soon as I try to run Mac OS software update concurrently with the IOS download, everything screeches to a halt. If I stop the MacOS downloads, IOS takes off again.

My iP4 has been "bricked" now for about 5 hours, my MacBook will not recognize it so I can't really do anything to it, it is just shuffling from the pinwheel to the apple logo on the screen. Any ideas?

IPad 2. Tried to install 5 immediately after it went up. Long download, followed by "unknown error." On my second call to Apple, was told "Servers are currently doing five million downloads per hour. My best advice is to wait a few hours." In the meantime, however, I'd gotten to the "Restore" point in the process which did brick the iPad. But I was able to do the download and restore a few hours later, thereby unbricking the iPad, on which I'm currently typing this message.
First impressions: Some immediately useful improvements, in Safari, for example. And both theiPad itself and downloads to it, seem very much faster.
So... Worth the hassle for me.

I had my iPhone 4 bricked. I unplugged the sync cable and then plugged my iPhone back in and iTunes detected my phone in its state. I then ran the restore process and had to do this 5 times until Apple server was available and my iPhone 4 was successfully updated. I had an error 3200 on my iPad as well and it took about 6 tries to get it updated as well. Wow. What a process.

Ditto, but only one restore for my iphone. Both my ipad and iphone got the error (relieved to have read about it here). In all, I spent about an hour and a half getting ios5, imac software update, and itunes update....still working on the ipad (it's been stuck at "fifteen minutes remaining" for ten minutes). Strangely, I think I'll feel nostalgic for these times of (slightly) delayed gratification if in the future we don't have such excitement over Apple products.

Should have been Lion then iTunes then iOS 5, as it was backwards fails occurred until the final piece, Lion, was dropped and installed
I suggest they also release S/W according to time zones and not open the whole world at once.

I wonder if the folks who claim their devices were "bricked" tried putting the iPhone in DFU mode or Recovery mode?! My guess is one of those two would have brought them back to life to restore in iTunes...

No need really. Turn the phone off and back on. Click restore if asked. Then the process continues.